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I can't upload a picture, but I noticed today several tiny bruises on my legs, back of the thighs mostly. They are small and I have bruises on my right tibia too, 9 and they are on the line. Yesterday I had a bad back pain, today leg pain. I have felt nauseous and 2 weeks ago I was so tired for the 2 days I couldn't do anything. I'm still little tired but not as much. I have had lump feeling in the throat, it comes and goes but doesn't feel when I drink or eat. I'm literally convinced that I have leukemia. I had blood drawn on May 8th and everything was fine, nothing was low or increased. Everything was checked.

I wonder if we realise how much we value the body and pay little attention to the Mind? When we are sick it's the Mind that's sick which is projected onto the body. Oh YEAH!! I hear you say! OK, so it's very controversial, but if you have the patience to listen on, well, who knows! All the world and all the institutions in regard to health are related to bodies. In the UK we have the NHS which is all about bodies. In the USA you have people making millions of dollars out of sick bodies. Right? Let me ask you a question. How much time effort and money is poured into the Mind? In the UK we have to fight to get the barest minimum of money from the government for mental health, when so much physical sickness could be avoided should more was put in. On this site you find that the majority of people complain of bodily symptoms. OK, so it happens and that fine, because that's what we are here for; to help each other, compare notes and, where at all possible, to give comfort and reassurance. You guys all do that and bless you for it. But maybe a different approach is needed. The realisation that what we think and believe in becomes our reality. We create 'idols' to worship. Yes, our bodies we do indeed worship or why would we pay them so much attention? If you idolise something you place great reliance on it. Religion in the orthodox sense is such a reliance. People kill in the name of their religion. They believe in it as much as we believe in ill health. Now OK, you may say, so what do I do about that? You begin by realising the problem does not lie in the body but the Mind. So you need to retrain the mind. Therefore, the physical ailments that are associated with the body begin in the Mind. The very realisation of that fact can help. SOME self help books and SOME therapies can help here, but caution is needed because many of the authors have no idea what anxiety is and talk from theory alone. Meditation can help but many find it difficult. An untrained mind will go off in all directions. The Buddhists say it's like a 'mad monkey, swinging from branch to branch, sampling the fruits but abiding nowhere'. The 'monkey' has to be calmed down and taught how to behave. Now what is it that is going to do all this? You? But you are in an anxiety state so how can you? 'The blind leading the blind' comes to mind. But fortunately we all have a Higher Mind, a force way beyond any understanding, but which can be harnessed to bring us good because that is its purpose. When you say, OK, I will sort out my mind, it's what is doing it. Something beyond your normal thought levels. We have all surely felt that something is there to give relief if only we could find it. That 'something is your real self, buried beneath layers of wrong and negative thinking. It's like a blazing light in an attic covered by all the rubbish thrown up there over the years. We need to remove the rubbish and let the light shine because it never went out. The Higher Self; the real YOU is hardly ever given a chance to express itself because we block the way with negativity and our total attachment to our body. The next time you panic or have symptoms sit down take deep breaths and think about it. Give it some thought and try and allow reason to enter, because reason is a message from your Higher Mind. Your primitive mind is telling you that you are ill. Your Higher mind refutes that suggestion and tells you you are not. It's your choice who you believe.

NO!! Don't look it up on Google, it ain't there. What made me think of that was reading in some posts long medical words that are meaningless unless you are a medic. Those old enough to remember will have heard the musical 'The Sound of Music' with Julie Andrews. Extraklifastilisticexitralidosis was in a song together with the words 'A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down in a most delightful way'. We may have to 'take our medicine' both virtually and in reality, but we do need that little bit of sugar, don't we? What I'm saying is that so many in anxiety neglect themselves. The things they used to enjoy no longer give pleasure, but this should be overcome. It's so easy to fall into the pit of self pity, despair. Despair is a very energy consuming emotion and should be avoided at all costs. It drags you down even further. It's very rewarding in a kind of distorted way to say, when asked, 'oh yes I have Extrak..................osis'. For those with HA it's a good talking point, and often induces a lot of sympathy. But it's not sympathy you want but empathy and good sound help. Why not sit down with a glass of wine or a good book or watch a good non violent movie and just relax as best you can. Occupying your mind is very important. Not with negative thoughts or emotions but something that 'takes you out of yourself'. Interesting, isn't it? 'Out of yourself'. Out of who you are at this moment, this suffering person, and into something that is different, interesting, or just plain enjoyable. This may take effort. So?? But effort has to be made in everything to do with anxiety. Dr. Weekes called this 'nurping'. There is no magic wand or pill or even a person that can help without you being willing. Even good counselling needs your willing cooperation. PLOMS disease is a nasty complaint. Never heard of it? Poor Little Old Me! Wallowing is self pity is dangerous and destructive in anxiety. Forcing yourself to do is not easy but can be done, given the will.

Hi There, just joined the forum. I have a multitude of health concerns, but i will save them for another forum. I will just introduce myself here Robert, From Ireland. 23 years old. Working as an IT Systems Administrator. I suffer from high levels of anxiety and stress. Only recently has this Anxiety turned into a more of a health-related hypochondria / health Anxiety. I suffered Asthma as as a child, but nothing else since thankfully. I have been relativity healthy. I could do with loosing a few pounds, and exercising more.. but i wouldn't consider my weight a major issue. Anyway, looking forward to (hopefully) easing my concerns, or at least, talking with others that have similar Health Anxiety issues! Robert

Hi there, just registered. Hoping i am posting in the right place! Firstly, i suffer from high levels of anxiety and stress. Only recently, has this turned in to a more of a health-related hypochondria / anxiety. I basically think i have a serious illness and that im going to die. I have all these symptoms that seem 110% real. (and maybe they are?! - i have never had much health-anxiety before) I will list them: >> Lack of appetite, swollen stomach, Nausea >> Fatigue, really tired all the time, getting a full nights sleep, yet still feeling really tired and fatigued. >> Pale. Dark Circles under eyes. Slight Yellowing in corner of eyes (Jaundice??) >> Pain / pressure under right rib-cage / feeling like i have a golfball under neath my ribcage >> Back pain in my mid-to-lower back (left side mainly)- comes and goes. >> IBS (Self-Diagnosed) >> Feeling a pressure in my pelvis / left Buttox / left leg area - as if i have a swollen prostate (or in that general region) >> Slightly-Paler Stools and darker Urine >> Burning sensations, kinda everywhere really.. random hotspots on my body for no apparent reason >> Frequent Urination I have been to the GP for checkups and tests. I have had an Endoscopy down my throat (they noticed i had a Hiatus Hernia and slight inflammation / GERD) I have had an abdominal Ultrasound, nothing showed up. I had bloods done, everything came back ok, except from slightly elevated ALTs - she told me its nothing to worry about?! I am now waiting to see a Gastroenterologist in a few weeks. I am so nervous and anxious about it all. I keep googling my symptoms and it's telling me all sorts of serious things! I cant stop thinking about it, and its affecting my daily work now. It's sorta turned into OCD, where i keep having to repeat myself and say things in my head like " im not going to die " is there anyone else with similar issues / symptoms - feel so alone here! :( Robert

Lately I have been trying new things to manage my health anxiety and I wanted to share some of them. Hope it helps! 1. Nostalgia- Listening to songs from middle school always puts me in a good mood and distracts me from thinking about my "symptoms" 2. Writing- For me it helps to write all of my worries down on paper and leave it there. Get it all out and go have a good day. If you're like me and have health anxiety sometimes you will force yourself into having certain symptoms. I get confused, dizzy, light headed, etc. so writing forces me to use my brain and also helps concentrate. 3.Keep it moving- Find things to occupy your time as well as keep your circulation flowing. With anxiety we sometimes aren't breathing right or moving enough and it tends to give you numbness or a tingly feeling in your limbs. Feelings like that only make our anxiety more intense. I try to keep a busy schedule and do everything I can to just not think about it. The fact is we with health anxiety probably do not have these illnesses now but one day we all will and we all will die we need to live as best as we can. I know it is easier said than done or I obviously wouldn't be here but I hope it heps someone.